Pere Ariza-Montobbio | FLACSO-Ecuador - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Pere Ariza-Montobbio
In the follow-up section, Alternative models: distributed energy, we explore the distributed ener... more In the follow-up section, Alternative models: distributed energy, we explore the distributed energy model as a viable alternative to centralized models based on private property and describe briefly its main features: (a) the use of renewable energy sources, (b) the empowerment of consumers through the democratization of the means of energy production and distribution and (c) the communal management of the relevant infrastructure. Our analysis suggests that power generation could be much more efficiently organized as a commons, rather than as a commodity, the recognition of which should be the fundamental principle underlying all public policy proposals aimed at the transformation of the energy sector.
El capitalismo industrial se encuentra ante una crisis multidimensional con serios retos ambienta... more El capitalismo industrial se encuentra ante una crisis multidimensional con serios retos ambientales, sociales, culturales, economicos y politicos. Los combustibles fosiles baratos hicieron posible la revolucion industrial y han sostenido el crecimiento de la sociedad industrial. Ahora los combustibles fosiles estan empezando a escasear y estan generando el calentamiento global. En respuesta al cambio climatico y al 'pico del petroleo' gobiernos, corporaciones, ciudadanos y movimientos sociales promueven las energias renovables. La menor densidad energetica y el caracter disperso de las energias renovables aumentan la demanda de territorio tanto cuantitativamente como cualitativamente. Ello requiere atencion a los cambios espaciales y a la planificacion del territorio para su implementacion. Ademas, hay diferentes posibles caminos hacia un sistema energetico basado en renovables. Un camino 'duro' promoveria centrales electricas y plantaciones de biomasa a gran escala...
Se requiere establecer la cuestion de la energia en una nueva concepcion del desarrollo que se op... more Se requiere establecer la cuestion de la energia en una nueva concepcion del desarrollo que se oponga al manejo centralizado que considera a la energia desde arriba hacia abajo. Bajo un sistema descentralizado la energia se situa en una concepcion del desarrollo de abajo hacia arriba sustentado en la autonomia y participacion de los territorios. Por ello, es necesario construir una soberania energetica enmarcada en multiples soberanias que privilegien las relaciones de los territorios en multiples escalas. Esto hara factible liberarse de la dependencia de un sistema de dominacion de la naturaleza que incrementa nuevos y mas complejos problemas ambientales.
El presente documento parte de un analisis de las politicas energeticas en Ecuador y de las neces... more El presente documento parte de un analisis de las politicas energeticas en Ecuador y de las necesidades del pais en el contexto de los limites biofisicos del planeta, como base para proponer orientaciones y directrices estrategicas de politica publica en el ambito energetico, asi como un conjunto de casos y proyectos ilustrativos de las medidas propuestas. En particular, se consideran las condiciones para una transformacion de la matriz energetica del pais que acompane a la transformacion productiva general, lo que implica disminuir la dependencia de los combustibles fosiles, fortalecer el rol de las energias renovables y descentralizar la produccion energetica, potenciando una escala productiva en la que la ciudadania pueda pasar de ser mera consumidora de energia a participar en la produccion y la gestion del sistema energetico, a traves de su mayor conocimiento y empoderamiento en la materia, lo que en definitiva afecta no solo a la oferta energetica, sino tambien a la demanda. A...
Interventions aiming to devolve water management to local populations can be problematic if they ... more Interventions aiming to devolve water management to local populations can be problematic if they overlook socio-cultural aspects, such as local perceptions and uses of water management systems. We used ethnographic and survey data collected in two villages in Tamil Nadu, India, to analyze local perceptions and uses of tanks, a traditional irrigation infrastructure. We found that informants recognize the importance of tanks for irrigation, but also acknowledge other socio-economic uses and ecological functions. Our data also suggest that marginal segements (i.e., Scheduled Castes) use tank resources in more diverse ways than other segements of the population. International organizations working on the revival of tanks aim to transfer water management to farmers for the purpose of irrigation. By recognizing that tanks benefit people other than farmers and in ways other than providing irrigation water, organizations working on tank rejuvenation could achieve a more equitable management...
En depit de l’entreprise de legitimation du developpement des plantations de jatropha pour la pro... more En depit de l’entreprise de legitimation du developpement des plantations de jatropha pour la production de biodiesel en Inde, les resultats enregistres dans l’Etat du Tamil Nadu ne plaident pas en faveur de cette option agricole et energetique. La marginalisation des petits paysans et des cultures vivrieres invalide de facto le double argument officiel de « valorisation des terres incultes » et de « lutte contre la pauvrete ».
Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2014
ABSTRACT While rural transformations are nothing new in human history, current pro-cesses of rura... more ABSTRACT While rural transformations are nothing new in human history, current pro-cesses of rural change occur under multiple forces at an unprecedented pace, involving profound and unexpected changes in land use and users, and rapid transformations in the metabolic patterns of rural systems. The present special section aims to shed light on current drivers and pathways of rural change by analyzing, under a common conceptual and theoretical framework, examples of new ruralities that are emerging as responses across different world regions. Within this context, this introduction presents: (1) common research questions of the six presented cases of rural change; (2) the general theoretical and methodological framework of integrated assessment of societal metabolism adopted to analyze rural systems and (3) the main contributions and conclusions that could be drawn from six context-specific case studies from Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Environment, Development and Sustainability
Ambiente & Sociedade
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) requires social learning and linkages between actors and levels ... more Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) requires social learning and linkages between actors and levels under Adaptive Co-Management (ACM), especially in landscapes with high biodiversity and vulnerability, such as the Tropical Andes. Methodology: A multicriteria methodology was designed and applied to identify, characterize, select and evaluate the ACM and the constraining and enabling conditions for its effectiveness in EbA actions implemented between 2011 and 2015. Results: 1. The integration of conservation, restoration and sustainable production, and linkage among institutions and sectors through local leadership, enable knowledge coproduction, social learning and innovation. 2. Governance and planning based on a landscape approach, and acknowledgment of the diversity of contexts, promote dialogue, cooperation and institutional innovation. 3. Economic alternatives in production, marketing and local markets, as well as complete and adequate technology transfers, stable and planned fund...
Journal of Peasant Studies, 2010
Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal land... more Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal lands, economic returns for small farmers, and lack of competition with food crops. However, empirical results from a study in southern India revealed that Jatropha cultivation, even on agricultural lands, is neither profitable, nor pro-poor. We use a political ecology framework to analyse both the discourse promoting Jatropha
Journal of Peer Production, Jul 2015
This policy paper explores the model of distributed energy as a viable alternative to centralised... more This policy paper explores the model of distributed energy as a viable alternative to centralised models. To illustrate the model, which is characterised by (a) the use of renewable energy sources, (b) the empowerment of consumers through the democratisation of the means of energy production and distribution, and (c) the communal management of the relevant infrastructure, we look at four case studies, which suggest that energy production could be more effectively organised as a Commons, rather than as a commodity. This, we conclude, should be the fundamental principle underlying all public policy proposals aimed at the transformation of the energy sector.
Society & Natural Resources, 2011
Using data from free listings and a survey in two villages of Tamil Nadu, India, we discuss local... more Using data from free listings and a survey in two villages of Tamil Nadu, India, we discuss local perceptions and uses of water tanks, a traditional irrigation infrastructure. We hypothesize that both farmers and nonfarmers perceive and use water tanks for purposes other than irrigation. We found that informants recognized the importance of water tanks for irrigation, but also acknowledged other socioeconomic uses and ecological functions. Marginal sectors (i.e., Scheduled Castes) use tank resources in more diverse ways than other sectors of the population. Findings are relevant for development. International organizations working on the revival of water tanks aim to transfer water management to farmers for the purpose of irrigation. By recognizing that tanks benefit people other than farmers and in ways other than providing irrigation water, organizations working on tank rejuvenation could achieve a more equitable management of tank resources.
Researchers, policy makers and civil society discuss the potential of biofuels as partial substit... more Researchers, policy makers and civil society discuss the potential of biofuels as partial substitutes for fossil fuels and as a solution for environmental (e.g. climate change) and social problems (eg. rural poverty). This paper assesses 1) the on farm performance and 2) the impact of Jatropha curcas plantations on local livelihoods and food sovereignty in Tamil Nadu, South India. Jatropha
Journal of Peasant Studies, 2010
Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal land... more Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal lands, economic returns for small farmers, and lack of competition with food crops. However, empirical results from a study in southern India revealed that Jatropha cultivation, even on agricultural lands, is neither profitable, nor pro-poor. We use a political ecology framework to analyse both the discourse promoting Jatropha cultivation and its empirical consequences. We deconstruct the shaky premises of the dominant discourse of Jatropha as a ‘pro-poor’ and ‘pro-wasteland’ development crop, a discourse that paints a win-win picture between poverty alleviation, natural resource regeneration, and energy security goals. We then draw from fieldwork on Jatropha plantations in the state of Tamil Nadu to show how Jatropha cultivation favours resource-rich farmers, while possibly reinforcing existing processes of marginalisation of small and marginal farmers.
Ecological Economics, 2010
Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of ... more Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of biofuels as partial substitutes for fossil fuels and thereby as a simultaneous solution for climate change and rural poverty. Research has highlighted the ambiguity of these claims across various dimensions and scales, focusing on ethanol-producing or oilseed crops in agricultural lands or Jatropha-type crops on common lands. We studied the agronomic and economic viability and livelihood impacts of Jatropha curcas plantations on private farms in Tamil Nadu, India. We found that Jatropha yields are much lower than expected and its cultivation is currently unviable, and even its potential viability is strongly determined by water access. On the whole, the crop impoverishes farmers, particularly the poorer and socially backward farmers. Jatropha cultivation therefore not only fails to alleviate poverty, but its aggressive and misguided promotion will generate conflict between the state and the farmers, between different socio-economic classes and even within households. The water demands of the crop can potentially exacerbate the conflicts and competition over water access in Tamil Nadu villages.
Ecological Economics
Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of ... more Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of biofuels as partial substitutes for fossil fuels and thereby as a simultaneous solution for climate change and rural poverty. Research has highlighted the ambiguity of these claims across various dimensions and scales, focusing on ethanol-producing or oilseed crops in agricultural lands or Jatropha-type crops on common lands. We studied the agronomic and economic viability and livelihood impacts of Jatropha curcas plantations on private farms in Tamil Nadu, India. We found that Jatropha yields are much lower than expected and its cultivation is currently unviable, and even its potential viability is strongly determined by water access. On the whole, the crop impoverishes farmers, particularly the poorer and socially backward farmers. Jatropha cultivation therefore not only fails to alleviate poverty, but its aggressive and misguided promotion will generate conflict between the state and the farmers, between different socio-economic classes and even within households. The water demands of the crop can potentially exacerbate the conflicts and competition over water access in Tamil Nadu villages.
In the follow-up section, Alternative models: distributed energy, we explore the distributed ener... more In the follow-up section, Alternative models: distributed energy, we explore the distributed energy model as a viable alternative to centralized models based on private property and describe briefly its main features: (a) the use of renewable energy sources, (b) the empowerment of consumers through the democratization of the means of energy production and distribution and (c) the communal management of the relevant infrastructure. Our analysis suggests that power generation could be much more efficiently organized as a commons, rather than as a commodity, the recognition of which should be the fundamental principle underlying all public policy proposals aimed at the transformation of the energy sector.
El capitalismo industrial se encuentra ante una crisis multidimensional con serios retos ambienta... more El capitalismo industrial se encuentra ante una crisis multidimensional con serios retos ambientales, sociales, culturales, economicos y politicos. Los combustibles fosiles baratos hicieron posible la revolucion industrial y han sostenido el crecimiento de la sociedad industrial. Ahora los combustibles fosiles estan empezando a escasear y estan generando el calentamiento global. En respuesta al cambio climatico y al 'pico del petroleo' gobiernos, corporaciones, ciudadanos y movimientos sociales promueven las energias renovables. La menor densidad energetica y el caracter disperso de las energias renovables aumentan la demanda de territorio tanto cuantitativamente como cualitativamente. Ello requiere atencion a los cambios espaciales y a la planificacion del territorio para su implementacion. Ademas, hay diferentes posibles caminos hacia un sistema energetico basado en renovables. Un camino 'duro' promoveria centrales electricas y plantaciones de biomasa a gran escala...
Se requiere establecer la cuestion de la energia en una nueva concepcion del desarrollo que se op... more Se requiere establecer la cuestion de la energia en una nueva concepcion del desarrollo que se oponga al manejo centralizado que considera a la energia desde arriba hacia abajo. Bajo un sistema descentralizado la energia se situa en una concepcion del desarrollo de abajo hacia arriba sustentado en la autonomia y participacion de los territorios. Por ello, es necesario construir una soberania energetica enmarcada en multiples soberanias que privilegien las relaciones de los territorios en multiples escalas. Esto hara factible liberarse de la dependencia de un sistema de dominacion de la naturaleza que incrementa nuevos y mas complejos problemas ambientales.
El presente documento parte de un analisis de las politicas energeticas en Ecuador y de las neces... more El presente documento parte de un analisis de las politicas energeticas en Ecuador y de las necesidades del pais en el contexto de los limites biofisicos del planeta, como base para proponer orientaciones y directrices estrategicas de politica publica en el ambito energetico, asi como un conjunto de casos y proyectos ilustrativos de las medidas propuestas. En particular, se consideran las condiciones para una transformacion de la matriz energetica del pais que acompane a la transformacion productiva general, lo que implica disminuir la dependencia de los combustibles fosiles, fortalecer el rol de las energias renovables y descentralizar la produccion energetica, potenciando una escala productiva en la que la ciudadania pueda pasar de ser mera consumidora de energia a participar en la produccion y la gestion del sistema energetico, a traves de su mayor conocimiento y empoderamiento en la materia, lo que en definitiva afecta no solo a la oferta energetica, sino tambien a la demanda. A...
Interventions aiming to devolve water management to local populations can be problematic if they ... more Interventions aiming to devolve water management to local populations can be problematic if they overlook socio-cultural aspects, such as local perceptions and uses of water management systems. We used ethnographic and survey data collected in two villages in Tamil Nadu, India, to analyze local perceptions and uses of tanks, a traditional irrigation infrastructure. We found that informants recognize the importance of tanks for irrigation, but also acknowledge other socio-economic uses and ecological functions. Our data also suggest that marginal segements (i.e., Scheduled Castes) use tank resources in more diverse ways than other segements of the population. International organizations working on the revival of tanks aim to transfer water management to farmers for the purpose of irrigation. By recognizing that tanks benefit people other than farmers and in ways other than providing irrigation water, organizations working on tank rejuvenation could achieve a more equitable management...
En depit de l’entreprise de legitimation du developpement des plantations de jatropha pour la pro... more En depit de l’entreprise de legitimation du developpement des plantations de jatropha pour la production de biodiesel en Inde, les resultats enregistres dans l’Etat du Tamil Nadu ne plaident pas en faveur de cette option agricole et energetique. La marginalisation des petits paysans et des cultures vivrieres invalide de facto le double argument officiel de « valorisation des terres incultes » et de « lutte contre la pauvrete ».
Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2014
ABSTRACT While rural transformations are nothing new in human history, current pro-cesses of rura... more ABSTRACT While rural transformations are nothing new in human history, current pro-cesses of rural change occur under multiple forces at an unprecedented pace, involving profound and unexpected changes in land use and users, and rapid transformations in the metabolic patterns of rural systems. The present special section aims to shed light on current drivers and pathways of rural change by analyzing, under a common conceptual and theoretical framework, examples of new ruralities that are emerging as responses across different world regions. Within this context, this introduction presents: (1) common research questions of the six presented cases of rural change; (2) the general theoretical and methodological framework of integrated assessment of societal metabolism adopted to analyze rural systems and (3) the main contributions and conclusions that could be drawn from six context-specific case studies from Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Environment, Development and Sustainability
Ambiente & Sociedade
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) requires social learning and linkages between actors and levels ... more Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) requires social learning and linkages between actors and levels under Adaptive Co-Management (ACM), especially in landscapes with high biodiversity and vulnerability, such as the Tropical Andes. Methodology: A multicriteria methodology was designed and applied to identify, characterize, select and evaluate the ACM and the constraining and enabling conditions for its effectiveness in EbA actions implemented between 2011 and 2015. Results: 1. The integration of conservation, restoration and sustainable production, and linkage among institutions and sectors through local leadership, enable knowledge coproduction, social learning and innovation. 2. Governance and planning based on a landscape approach, and acknowledgment of the diversity of contexts, promote dialogue, cooperation and institutional innovation. 3. Economic alternatives in production, marketing and local markets, as well as complete and adequate technology transfers, stable and planned fund...
Journal of Peasant Studies, 2010
Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal land... more Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal lands, economic returns for small farmers, and lack of competition with food crops. However, empirical results from a study in southern India revealed that Jatropha cultivation, even on agricultural lands, is neither profitable, nor pro-poor. We use a political ecology framework to analyse both the discourse promoting Jatropha
Journal of Peer Production, Jul 2015
This policy paper explores the model of distributed energy as a viable alternative to centralised... more This policy paper explores the model of distributed energy as a viable alternative to centralised models. To illustrate the model, which is characterised by (a) the use of renewable energy sources, (b) the empowerment of consumers through the democratisation of the means of energy production and distribution, and (c) the communal management of the relevant infrastructure, we look at four case studies, which suggest that energy production could be more effectively organised as a Commons, rather than as a commodity. This, we conclude, should be the fundamental principle underlying all public policy proposals aimed at the transformation of the energy sector.
Society & Natural Resources, 2011
Using data from free listings and a survey in two villages of Tamil Nadu, India, we discuss local... more Using data from free listings and a survey in two villages of Tamil Nadu, India, we discuss local perceptions and uses of water tanks, a traditional irrigation infrastructure. We hypothesize that both farmers and nonfarmers perceive and use water tanks for purposes other than irrigation. We found that informants recognized the importance of water tanks for irrigation, but also acknowledged other socioeconomic uses and ecological functions. Marginal sectors (i.e., Scheduled Castes) use tank resources in more diverse ways than other sectors of the population. Findings are relevant for development. International organizations working on the revival of water tanks aim to transfer water management to farmers for the purpose of irrigation. By recognizing that tanks benefit people other than farmers and in ways other than providing irrigation water, organizations working on tank rejuvenation could achieve a more equitable management of tank resources.
Researchers, policy makers and civil society discuss the potential of biofuels as partial substit... more Researchers, policy makers and civil society discuss the potential of biofuels as partial substitutes for fossil fuels and as a solution for environmental (e.g. climate change) and social problems (eg. rural poverty). This paper assesses 1) the on farm performance and 2) the impact of Jatropha curcas plantations on local livelihoods and food sovereignty in Tamil Nadu, South India. Jatropha
Journal of Peasant Studies, 2010
Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal land... more Jatropha curcas is promoted internationally for its presumed agronomic viability in marginal lands, economic returns for small farmers, and lack of competition with food crops. However, empirical results from a study in southern India revealed that Jatropha cultivation, even on agricultural lands, is neither profitable, nor pro-poor. We use a political ecology framework to analyse both the discourse promoting Jatropha cultivation and its empirical consequences. We deconstruct the shaky premises of the dominant discourse of Jatropha as a ‘pro-poor’ and ‘pro-wasteland’ development crop, a discourse that paints a win-win picture between poverty alleviation, natural resource regeneration, and energy security goals. We then draw from fieldwork on Jatropha plantations in the state of Tamil Nadu to show how Jatropha cultivation favours resource-rich farmers, while possibly reinforcing existing processes of marginalisation of small and marginal farmers.
Ecological Economics, 2010
Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of ... more Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of biofuels as partial substitutes for fossil fuels and thereby as a simultaneous solution for climate change and rural poverty. Research has highlighted the ambiguity of these claims across various dimensions and scales, focusing on ethanol-producing or oilseed crops in agricultural lands or Jatropha-type crops on common lands. We studied the agronomic and economic viability and livelihood impacts of Jatropha curcas plantations on private farms in Tamil Nadu, India. We found that Jatropha yields are much lower than expected and its cultivation is currently unviable, and even its potential viability is strongly determined by water access. On the whole, the crop impoverishes farmers, particularly the poorer and socially backward farmers. Jatropha cultivation therefore not only fails to alleviate poverty, but its aggressive and misguided promotion will generate conflict between the state and the farmers, between different socio-economic classes and even within households. The water demands of the crop can potentially exacerbate the conflicts and competition over water access in Tamil Nadu villages.
Ecological Economics
Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of ... more Researchers, policy makers and civil society organizations have been discussing the potential of biofuels as partial substitutes for fossil fuels and thereby as a simultaneous solution for climate change and rural poverty. Research has highlighted the ambiguity of these claims across various dimensions and scales, focusing on ethanol-producing or oilseed crops in agricultural lands or Jatropha-type crops on common lands. We studied the agronomic and economic viability and livelihood impacts of Jatropha curcas plantations on private farms in Tamil Nadu, India. We found that Jatropha yields are much lower than expected and its cultivation is currently unviable, and even its potential viability is strongly determined by water access. On the whole, the crop impoverishes farmers, particularly the poorer and socially backward farmers. Jatropha cultivation therefore not only fails to alleviate poverty, but its aggressive and misguided promotion will generate conflict between the state and the farmers, between different socio-economic classes and even within households. The water demands of the crop can potentially exacerbate the conflicts and competition over water access in Tamil Nadu villages.